Have You Signed Up for Obamacare Yet? Yes, YOU.

Most of you reading this blog are Americans in your 20s and 30s. Many of you hold unconventional jobs, such as outdoor guides, servers, bloggers, and yoga teachers. Though these jobs provide some incredible benefits, there is one glaring exception: health insurance.

I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that a lot of you still don’t have it. I’m not judging or lecturing: I’ve been there.

Philly’s Magic Gardens.

“I don’t need health insurance!”

During my time living in Colorado, bare-bones health insurance cost me $140/month. My entire budget for the month, including rent ($600), was $1,200. As is the case for many of you, that didn’t leave a lot of wiggle room — and for several years, I went without health insurance. To me, it was more important to have a few big nights out than it was to protect myself.

I was young… and I was really stupid.

But no amount of lecturing from my parents could change my mind. I was in the prime of my life — what did I need insurance for? That was for old people and pregnant ladies.

If you’re reading this blog, you have an amazing thirst for adventure. You work hard and play harder. Though you’re hopefully healthy, you’re still at grave risk for a hiking or rock-climbing accident, or even a nasty case of giardia. But you don’t think it could happen to you.

Maybe I’m not invincible…

For me, it took the horrible experiences of a few friends (and countless more heard through the grapevine) to make me realize just how dumb I was.

One friend broke his collarbone while snowboarding, while another friend came down with a strange virus that landed her in the hospital for a week. Due to their lack of health insurance, they both ended up with medical bills for more than $50,000.

$50,000. They’ll be paying those loans for a long time, and all because they thought they were invincible.

News flash: just because you’re young and hot and awesome and fit does NOT mean you’re invincible.

Shit happens, and you don’t want to be without insurance when it does.

Have you signed up for Obamacare yet?

With the advent of the Affordable Care Act, you no longer have an excuse. If you’re not signed up, you need to get your act together STAT. You have until March 31st to enroll.

(If you need more convincing, check out this hilarious interview President Obama did with The Hangover’s Zach Galifianakis.)

Haven’t signed up yet? You’re like many people I know. I’ve heard a range of excuses, which I’m going to address here:

“I heard it’s bad.” –> I guess the correct word here would be “controversial.” It’s not perfect, and for some people and some industries, there is definitely going to be a negative impact. But for the country as a whole, this is a step in the right direction. For the majority of people reading this blog, you will benefit from it — and really, anything is better than no health insurance.

Also, if you’re worried about the website crashing or that it’s going to take a long time to enroll, don’t be. It took me less than an hour to get fully signed up.

Why enrolling is a good decision

Whatever your politics may be, and whether you wanted this law or not, it’s here to stay. Like I said, it’s far from perfect, but what is the first time around?

Are you going to throw away a perfectly good cupcake because the frosting is smudged in a few places? I sure hope not! (If you currently have a cupcake and are considering that route, please send it to me instead.)

I’m Canadian, so fortunately this doesn’t apply to me, but I can’t imagine having 50,000 dollars in medical bills! Insane. What a sin for those guys.Lisa from Lulu’s Big Adventure recently posted..Life Lessons Learned on the Yoga Mat

Susan, your encouragement to have health insurance is great, and I hope my travelling son does the same. However, what you and everyone who is receiving this great benefit does not realize is that there are many people in this country who are paying really exorbitant insurance rates in order for you and many others to get the same benefits while working as little as possible. For example, I am a single, 60 year old woman who works 6-7 days a week. My insurance quote for this year is $980/month! ($4000 deductible) There is something incredibly wrong with this program. Now I am encouraged to quit working and/or go without insurance. Do you think that this is fair or equitable?

Hi Leslie, thanks for your thoughtful comment. I’m sorry to hear your rates are so high. I haven’t talked to anyone paying so much before, and no: it does not seem fair. As I said, it’s not perfect — but it’s a step in the right direction. You will be able to go on Medicare in only five years, whereas that’s a long way away for me. I never go to the hospital or require care, so my burden on the healthcare system is almost negligent; my insurance is basically just for emergencies. For this peace of mind, I will be paying $150/month in 2015. Also, I would like to note that just because I (and many others) have worked seasonal jobs doesn’t mean that we work “as little as possible.” In fact, I work very hard — I just happen to do so in cool places. Here’s to hoping we can work together for more affordable health insurance for all in the near future!

Of course you do. Well, travel blogging ain't the most lucrative field. Each time you make a purchase on Amazon.com using this link, I'll earn a small percentage at NO extra cost to you. Thanks in advance, and remind me to buy you a beer the next time we cross paths!